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Net-Zero Buildings

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:58:00 GMT

Simply put, a Net Zero Energy building must have a significantly reduced need for energy, and have the capacity to make up for the balance of it by using renewable technology, such as PV (solar) panels, wind, hydroelectricity or bio fuels. Yet, when defining a building that requires zero energy – or “net zero” the Department of Energy explains a “net zero energy” building is determined by the project’s goals, and can fall into any or all of the four categories below:

Net Zero Site Energy – The building produces as much energy on site as it uses within a year.
Net Zero Source Energy – The building produces as much energy from a source as it uses within a year. A source refers to primary energy used to generate and deliver energy to the site.
Net Zero Energy Costs – The utility company pays the building owner for the energy the building exports to the grid, which is equal to the amount the owner pays the utility company for the energy services during the year.
Net Zero Emissions – The building produces as much emissions-free renewable energy as it uses from an emissions-producing energy source.

The design process is usually where reduction of the building’s energy consumption begins. Designers take advantage of sunlight, solar heat and the cool temperatures of the earth, and combine them to calculate a method of indoor lighting and stabilizing indoor temperatures. Computer software can help determine how a building will perform using those natural energy resources in relation to the building’s orientation, window and door placement, local climate and more, which can help with cost benefit analysis, financial implications on the building and life cycle assessment.

Solar-powered ranger home at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - the first net-zero home in the National Park Service. (Photo courtesy of DJC Oregon)

Once the building has been designed, construction specifications include energy-saving features to enhance the building’s efficiency. Things like added insulation, high-efficiency windows, natural ventilation, skylights and/or solar tubes and solar water heating all depend on climate zones, but can be very effective at reducing a building’s energy intake.

After the building is complete, energy must be harvested. If a building is connected to the grid, extra energy produced by the building may be returned to the grid when it’s not needed, and drawn from the grid when there’s not enough being produced. The building’s primary function – whether it’s a home or business - also impacts how energy is used.

Electricity consumption in the commercial building sector is expected to increase 50% by 2025, and will continue to increase until buildings are designed to offset their energy demand. The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes this, and has established a goal to “create the technology and knowledge base for cost-effective zero-energy commercial buildings by 2025.”

Leap Day

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:59:00 GMT

228 years ago today, in 1784 on the 29^th day of February, Leo von Klenze (Franz Karl Leopold von Klenze) was born. A German neoclassicist architect, he also studied public building finance, designed and arranged museum galleries of ancient art, and was an accomplished painter. His ability for sharp observation worked with his gift to improve upon nature – a talent that led him to design the streets, squares, and buildings which established Munich as the Bavarian capital. He also worked on preserving the Acropolis in Athens. In 1816, he began work as the court architect of Bavarian King Ludwig I, who influenced Leo with his passion for Hellenism - a neoclassical movement distinct from other Roman or Greco-Roman forms of neoclassicism that emerged after the European Renaissance. In 1838 he was commissioned by the Russian Emperor to design the New Hermitage, a public museum that housed the Romanov collection of paintings, books, coins and medals, prints and drawings in St. Petersburg, Russia.

(images of Leo vonKlenze and New Hermitage Museum ) courtesy of Wikipedia

Honorable Mention: While he’s not a Leap Year baby, Architect Frank Gehry was born the day before on February 28, in 1929.

(image of Guggenheim Museum in Spain, courtesy of Wikipedia)

Data Centers Leading the Way

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:11:00 GMT

The start of 2012 beckons us to look at ways we can continue to simplify and lessen our carbon footprint. While it’s no secret that Facebook recently completed a data center in Central Oregon, what most may not know is that the facility in Prineville consumes far less power than traditional computing facilities.

According to a Wired.com article, “Facebook leases data center space in North California and Virginia, and says the Prineville data center requires 38 percent less energy than these other facilities – while costing 24 percent less.” They have released the blue print of this data center to the general public as part of the Open Compute Project (opencompute.org): “By releasing Open Compute Project technologies as open hardware, our goal is to develop servers and data centers following the model traditionally associated with open source software projects.” “The ultimate goal of the Open Compute Project is to spark a collaborative dialogue. We’re already talking with our peers about how we can work together on Open Compute Project technology.”

Above: Facebook Data Center #1 - photo by Pete Erickson

With Facebook taking the initiative to release their energy-efficient data center model to the world, one can only hope that other visionaries might do the same. Buildings accounted for 38.9% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2005, and 72% of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2006 (U.S. Department of Engery and Annual Energy Review). Sustainability is becoming standard practice in the building and construction industry, and energy-saving models are now regarded as necessary – not optional. Not surprisingly, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is becoming a global trend. According to GreenBiz Group’s fourth annual report, there is 7.4% growth in international LEED projects, compared to just a growth of 1.5% in the United States.

Construction on Facebook’s second Prineville data center is in the works, and more data centers are on the horizon. Crews are learning new energy saving methods such as capturing rainwater for irrigation and flushing, installing evaporative cooling systems and extensive use of solar panels to save hundreds of thousands of kilowatt-hours per year. Needless to say, this is just the beginning of an architectural trend that has been in the making for quite some time and the leaders in technology are running with it, with the hope that the rest of the world will follow.

Redmond's New High School

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:37:00 GMT

Last month, BBT Architects had the opportunity to tour Ridgeview High School in Redmond, Oregon. Ridgview is a new high school under construction with an opening date set for Fall 2012. Dull Olson Weekes Architects in Portland designed the school, and BBT worked as field administrators.

The high school is a model for a new generation of schools that must be designed to accommodate a rapidly growing population, address new technology, incorporate sustainability and not just include college prep, but expanding fields of study including energy and sustainability technologies.

The capacity of Ridgeview High School is 1,400 students, and has two stories totaling 278,000 square feet. The front doors open to an expansive commons/dining area that acts as somewhat of a rest area between the school’s wings. The recessed concrete floor of the commons is level with the kitchen, culinary lab, school store and snack shop, with a corrugated metal vaulted ceiling, clear stories and pendant lights. The wall opposite the front entry is glazed from floor to ceiling with views to the northwest, allowing for natural light during the school day. The most noticeable feature is a second floor wood-paneled “loft” on the upper right above the commons. The enclosed space has floor to ceiling windows, making it seem like a luxury suite at a football stadium as it appears suspended in the air. The space will be used as a conference area (and likely a watch-dog perch for the principal on rowdy days).

The east wings are home to the library, which is housed in an open rotunda. While the space is just one story, the rotunda opens to the second story above and a circular light well intersected with wood glu lam beams. Medical classrooms, including exam rooms and dental classrooms, are also part of the east wings. There is also a fully equipped video production facility with television and other broadcast capabilities.

The west wing is home to the gymnasium, auditorium and childcare center. The main gymnasium also includes an auxiliary gym on the second floor and a lengthy wrestling room, as well as a fitness and weight room directly below. The auditorium seats over 600, includes an orchestra pit, and is surrounded by separate spaces for a scene shop and black box theater.

The primary structure is constructed using tilt-up concrete walls, and mechanical systems that are new to Central Oregon. Interior materials used include wood paneling with a cherry finish, red brick, stained concrete, corrugated metal, wood beams, steel rods, silver powder-coated metal railings and much, much more. The site also features a full track/football stadium, along with baseball and soccer fields, and tennis courts. The stadium lighting system is controlled somewhere in the Mid West, but can be turned on instantaneously via phone.

BBT Scholarship

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:11:00 GMT

Every year, BBT Architects awards a Central Oregon high school senior with a $1,000 scholarship to help pay for their expenses while pursuing an education in a design-related field, such as architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture or graphic design.

Applications are now being accepted from Bend, La Pine and Redmond High School seniors planning on attending an accredited college or university. Applicants will be evaluated on career plans in design, financial need, scholastic record and motivation.

The deadline for completed applications is Friday, April 13, 2012. Details and applications are available at Bend, La Pine and Redmond high school counseling and career centers. For more information or to request an application, contact Amy Clark at BBT, 541-382-5535 or email aclark@bbtarchitects.com.

Deschutes Brewery Gets The First of Five Tanks

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:31:00 GMT

The first of five fermentation tanks were delivered to Deschutes Brewery today. Word has it that it was delivered from Germany via ship into the Port of Vancouver, and trucked down to Central Oregon. See below for photos of the construction and the new tank. The final process involves using a crane to lift the tank into one of the holes in the deck.

The Crane (in gloomy, fall weather)

The Fermentation Tank - full length

Bottom of the Tank

The Concrete Deck - Home to the Tanks

Deschutes Brewery - Under Construction

Beer Keeps Bend Construction Crews Busy

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:56:00 GMT

Deschutes Brewery expects to complete their headquarters expansion in January, which includes five new fermentation tanks, and a gift shop and tasting room remodel, designed by BBT. The extra 6,750 square feet will allow Deschutes to brew an extra 105,000 barrels per year. With the expansion of Deschutes, Ten Barrel Brewing’s new brewing facility (which will house an additional 50 barrels), the renovated Brew Shop / Platypus Pub on Highway 97, and a number of other breweries preparing to make their mark on the Bend Ale Trail in the upcoming year, Bend is slowly fermenting its way to becoming Beer City, USA.

R&H Construction recently poured a concrete deck measuring three feet in thickness at Deschutes, using 240 cubic-yards of concrete and 70,000 pounds of rebar. This impressive “deck” was designed by BBT to support the weight of ten fermenting tanks, weighing a total of 2,760,000 pounds with the capacity to brew 310,000 gallons of beer at a time. This is the first phase of a two phase expansion – with the second phase including five more fermentation tanks.

BBT Architects and R&H Construction are designing and building the project, and Walker Structural Engineering is completing the structural design. Visitors are still able to access the brewery for tours, tastings, events and merchandise during construction.

100 years of Architecture in Oregon

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:28:00 GMT

October 27 will mark the 100^th Anniversary of the American Institute of Architects in the State of Oregon. In the Fall issue of Oregon Architect magazine, the AIA of Oregon celebrates Oregon’s architecture by looking ahead to what the next 100 years might hold given today’s economic and environmental hurdles. More than ever, architects, engineers, planners and universities are collaborating with local communities in an effort to improve environments as a whole, not just individual structures.

The magazine takes a look at Oregon’s most influential architects, including Pietro Belluschi who designed the Portland Art Museum in 1931, Ellis Fuller Lawrence who founded the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts in 1914, and Margaret Goodin Fritsch – the first woman to graduate from the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture in 1923 and the first woman in Oregon to be licensed as an architect, and discusses how Oregon has “become a national model in smart urban planning. States around the country look to us for how to manage growth through long-range community planning, thoughtful urban design, and the careful use of resources.” This includes all areas of Oregon, not just Portland:

“Long renowned for its plentiful natural resources, Bend experienced a population boom during the 1990s and 2000s. Local planners and developers had to play catch-up to meet the demand, leaving little time for creative, long-range planning, according to Don Stevens, AIA, owner of BBT Architects. But developments such as Bend’s mixed-use NorthWest Crossing show that growth can be accommodated while incorporating parks, trails and other amenities that foster livability and retain the region’s natural character. And while the recession has dampened residential construction in Central Oregon, institutional projects such as schools and medical facilities continue to rise, Stevens said.”

With many cities still in need of revitalization, the University of Oregon recently began a Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI), which “is a cross-disciplinary organization that seeks to promote education, service, public outreach and research on the design and development of sustainable cities.” Each year, the University partners with a city in Oregon (Sustainable City Year or SCY), and outlines courses in architecture, landscape architecture, product design, interior architecture, planning and public policy, journalism, law, arts administration, civil engineering, business, historic preservation and economics to focus on assisting the chosen city with goals and projects. Examples include ways to make the city more energy efficient, reuse industrial byproducts, connect parks with bicycle paths, and design energy-efficient municipal buildings. The reception of this program has been overwhelming, with the New York Times calling it “perhaps the most comprehensive effort by a U.S. university to infuse sustainability into its curricula and community outreach.” The Sustainable Cities Initiative is currently entering its third year, and has chosen Springfield as the SCY partner city.

While a struggling government continues to search for answers on how to reduce unemployment, the ongoing efforts within Oregon including those by the AIA, architecture firms, the Oregon University System and numerous other organizations looking to improve the state, city by city, prove that Oregonians are committed to creating healthy, active environments that are energy efficient and conducive to growth. Behind these efforts, we can only imagine there stands a hope that sustainable cities will more effectively produce and retain jobs at a steady rate, lead citizens to become more involved, and so much more.

AIA Oregon's Top 10:

1.) Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood

2.) Mount Angel Library, Mount Angel Abby

3.) Commonwealth Building, Portland

4.) Portland Art Museum, Portland

5.) US Bancorp Tower, Portland

6.) Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland

7.) Portland Central Library, Portland

8.) Gordon House, Silverton

9.) Memorial Coliseum, Portland

10.) The Watzek House, Portland

Historic Renovation - Room by Room

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:46:00 GMT

BBT recently completed renovations to the Bend La Pine School District’s Education Center, once known as Bend High School. The building, constructed in 1924, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses the Bend La Pine School District’s administration staff, as well as the Technology Support Center and more. In 2006, a $119 million construction bond was passed by voters to improve the school district, and in an effort that had been delayed for almost 10 years by BLPSD administration so as to maximize funds for the schools, the district offices finally got a little makeover.

Most of the $119 million went to more than 170 school expansions, renovations and maintenance projects, including adding space to the most overcrowded facilities – Pine Ridge and Westside Village Magnet at Kingston Elementary Schools. Sunriver’s Three Rivers Elementary was also renovated into both an elementary and middle school, with the capacity to hold 600 students each. The funds that were left were allocated to the Education Center, which was long overdue for a remodel.

The old Bend High School is three stories and 63,500 square feet, with numerous offices and meeting spaces. The building has been remodeled many times over the years, but the three most visible rooms – the board room, conference room and staff work room/lounge – had exposed electrical fixtures, well-worn flooring and cabinetry, and original radiators that needed a facelift . Using photos from a 1939 Bend High yearbook, BBT was able to retain a similar look with the trim, cabinetry and lighting fixtures.

Prior to the remodel of the rooms, BBT replaced all the original, single-pane windows in the building with energy efficient models. The look is the same, but they’ve eliminated the once notorious draft and dust issues, as well as saved on heating and cooling costs. With construction finally complete, administrators and teachers are now able to hold meetings comfortably in an upgraded board room and conference room using new AV equipment, as well as utilize a more efficient workspace in the work room/lounge, where the district also conducts job interviews.

Board Room - BEFORE

Board Room - AFTER

Staff Room - BEFORE

Staff Room - AFTER

A New "Green" Certification

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:05:00 GMT

These days, the term ”LEED certified” serves as the tagline for newly constructed, “green” commercial buildings. But what many don’t realize is that the LEED certification of a commercial building is a lengthy process, involving numerous professionals and stacks of paperwork. And the smaller the building, the less chance it will receive LEED certification, due to unique building specifications that vary by job site. Firmly established in the green building industry, Earth Advantage Institute has introduced a green certification program that is an industry-accepted benchmark for the small commercial building market.

Earth Advantage Institute is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Portland, working with building professionals to certify new homes, remodels, communities and commercial buildings as “green.” They’ve certified buildings as large as the Nike World Headquarters – but revamped their commercial standard to target the small business sector due to smaller commercial buildings accounting for a whopping 95% of newly constructed commercial structures in the United States (Energy Information Administration, 2003). The process is made up of five components: energy, health, water, materials and land. Similar to LEED certification, each serves to conserve, eliminate waste, protect and reduce impact on the building site and surrounding area. But rather than incorporate a time-consuming verification process with a lengthy paper trail, Earth Advantage continuously tracks and records the certification process throughout construction.

To qualify for Earth Advantage certification, a commercial building must be between 10,000 and 70,000 square feet and be a new project or major renovation. Rivermark Community Credit Union on Southeast Hawthorne in Portland was the first to receive certification under the Earth Advantage Commercial pilot program in early 2011, with green features like vegetated roof areas and a walk-up/bike-up teller window. The pilot program is expected to wrap up in late 2011 to make way for the full program.

In the past, smaller structures would normally fall through the cracks of LEED certification, leaving owners and developers without an option. Earth Advantage Commercial fills that niche, combining a solid foundation of experience with a stream-lined approach to the certification process. And with affordable green products and energy efficient solutions in high demand, the building industry will be looking for more ways to meet their client’s demands for sustainable choices.